acquaintance。Ifeltthathehadtakenalikingtome，and，inspiteofwhatIhadheardabouthisbehaviortoMissElmslie，inspiteofthesuspicionswhichthehistoryofhisfamilyandhisownconducthadarrayedagainsthim，Ibegantolike"MadMonkton"asmuchashelikedme。Wetookmanyaquietridetogetherinthecountry，andsailedoftenalongtheshoresoftheBayoneitherside。Butfortwoeccentricitiesinhisconduct，whichIcouldnotatallunderstand，Ishouldsoonhavefeltasmuchatmyeaseinhissocietyasifhehadbeenmyownbrother。
　　ThefirstoftheseeccentricitiesconsistedinthereappearanceonseveraloccasionsoftheoddexpressioninhiseyeswhichI
　　hadfirstseenwhenheaskedmewhetherIknewanythingabouttheduel。Nomatterwhatweweretalkingabout，orwherewehappenedtobe，thereweretimeswhenhewouldsuddenlylookawayfrommyface，nowononesideofme，nowontheother，butalwayswheretherewasnothingtosee，andalwayswiththesameintensityandfiercenessinhiseyes。Thislookedsolikemadness——orhypochondriaattheleast——thatIfeltafraidtoaskhimaboutit，andalwayspretendednottoobservehim。
　　Thesecondpeculiarityinhisconductwasthatheneverreferred，whileinmycompany，tothereportsabouthiserrandatNaples，andneveroncespokeofMissElmslie，orofhislifeatWincotAbbey。Thisnotonlyastonishedme，butamazedthosewhohadnoticedourintimacy，andwhohadmadesurethatImustbethedepositaryofallhissecrets。Butthetimewasnearathandwhenthismystery，andsomeothermysteriesofwhichIhadnosuspicionatthatperiod，werealltoberevealed。
　　Imethimonenightatalargeball，givenbyaRussiannobleman，whosenameIcouldnotpronouncethen，andcannotremembernow。I
　　hadwanderedawayfromreception—room，ballroom，andcardroom，toasmallapartmentatoneextremityofthepalace，whichwashalfconservatory，halfboudoir，andwhichhadbeenprettilyilluminatedfortheoccasionwithChineselanterns。NobodywasintheroomwhenIgotthere。TheviewovertheMediterranean，bathedinthebrightsoftnessofItalianmoonlight，wassolovelythatIremainedforalongtimeatthewindow，lookingout，andlisteningtothedance—musicwhichfaintlyreachedmefromtheballroom。MythoughtswerefarawaywiththerelationsIhadleftinEngland，whenIwasstartledoutofthembyhearingmynamesoftlypronounced。
　　Ilookedrounddirectly，andsawMonktonstandingintheroom。A
　　lividpalenessoverspreadhisface，andhiseyeswereturnedawayfrommewiththesameextraordinaryexpressioninthemtowhichI
　　havealreadyalluded。
　　"Doyoumindleavingtheballearlyto—night？"heasked，stillnotlookingatme。
　　"Notatall，"saidI。"CanIdoanythingforyou？Areyouill？"
　　"No——atleastnothingtospeakof。Willyoucometomyrooms？"
　　"Atonce，ifyoulike。"
　　"No，notatonce。_I_mustgohomedirectly；butdon’tyoucometomeforhalfanhouryet。Youhavenotbeenatmyroomsbefore，Iknow，butyouwilleasilyfindthemout；theyarecloseby。
　　Thereisacardwithmyaddress。I_must_speaktoyouto—night；
　　mylifedependsonit。Praycome！forGod’ssake，comewhenthehalfhourisup！"
　　Ipromisedtobepunctual，andheleftmedirectly。
　　MostpeoplewillbeeasilyabletoimaginethestateofnervousimpatienceandvagueexpectationinwhichIpassedtheallottedperiodofdelay，afterhearingsuchwordsasthoseMonktonhadspokentome。BeforethehalfhourhadquiteexpiredIbegantomakemywayoutthroughtheballroom。
　　Attheheadofthestaircasemyfriend，the_attache，_metme。
　　"What！goingawayalready？"Saidhe。
　　"Yes；andonaverycuriousexpedition。IamgoingtoMonkton’srooms，byhisowninvitation。"
　　"Youdon’tmeanit！Uponmyhonor，you’reaboldfellowtotrustyourselfalonewith’MadMonkton’whenthemoonisatthefull。"
　　"Heisill，poorfellow。Besides，Idon’tthinkhimhalfasmadasyoudo。"
　　"Wewon’tdisputeaboutthat；butmarkmywords，hehasnotaskedyoutogowherenovisitorhaseverbeenadmittedbeforewithoutaspecialpurpose。Ipredictthatyouwillseeorhearsomethingto—nightwhichyouwillrememberfortherestofyourlife。"
　　Weparted。WhenIknockedatthecourtyardgateofthehousewhereMonktonlived，myfriend’slastwordsonthepalacestaircaserecurredtome，and，thoughIhadlaughedathimwhenhespokethem，Ibegantosuspecteventhenthathispredictionwouldbefulfilled。
　　CHAPTERIII。
　　THEporterwholetmeintothehousewhereMonktonliveddirectedmetotheflooronwhichhisroomsweresituated。Ongettingupstairs，Ifoundhisdooronthelandingajar。Heheardmyfootsteps，Isuppose，forhecalledtometocomeinbeforeI
　　couldknock。
　　Ientered，andfoundhimsittingbythetable，withsomelooselettersinhishand，whichhewasjusttyingtogetherintoapacket。Inoticed，asheaskedmetositdown，thathisexpressionlookedmorecomposed，thoughthepalenesshadnotyetlefthisface。Hethankedmeforcoming；repeatedthathehadsomethingveryimportanttosaytome；andthenstoppedshort，apparentlytoomuchembarrassedtoproceed。Itriedtosethimathiseasebyassuringhimthat，ifmyassistanceoradvicecouldbeofanyuse，Iwasreadytoplacemyselfandmytimeheartilyandunreservedlyathisservice。
　　AsIsaidthisIsawhiseyesbeginningtowanderawayfrommyface——towanderslowly，inchbyinch，asitwere，untiltheystoppedatacertainpoint，withthesamefixedstareintovacancywhichhadsooftenstartledmeonformeroccasions。ThewholeexpressionofhisfacealteredasIhadneveryetseenitalter；hesatbeforemelookinglikeamaninadeath—trance。
　　"Youareverykind，"hesaid，slowlyandfaintly，speaking，nottome，butinthedirectioninwhichhiseyeswerestillfixed。
　　"Iknowyoucanhelpme；but——"
　　Hestopped；hisfacewhitenedhorribly，andtheperspirationbrokeoutalloverit。Hetriedtocontinue——saidawordortwo——thenstoppedagain。Seriouslyalarmedabouthim，IrosefrommychairwiththeintentionofgettinghimsomewaterfromajugwhichIsawstandingonaside—table。
　　Hesprangupatthesamemoment。AllthesuspicionsIhadeverheardwhisperedagainsthissanityflashedovermymindinaninstant，andIinvoluntarilysteppedbackapaceortwo。
　　"Stop，"hesaid，seatinghimselfagain；"don’tmindme；anddon’tleaveyourchair。Iwant——Iwish，ifyouplease，tomakealittlealteration，beforewesayanythingmore。Doyoumindsittinginastronglight？"
　　"Notintheleast。"
　　Ihadhithertobeenseatedintheshadeofhisreading—lamp，theonlylightintheroom。
　　AsIansweredhimheroseagain，and，goingintoanotherapartment，returnedwithalargelampinhishand；thentooktwocandlesfromtheside—table，andtwoothersfromthechimneypiece；placedthemall，tomyamazement，together，soastostandexactlybetweenus，andthentriedtolightthem。Hishandtrembledsothathewasobligedtogiveuptheattempt，andallowmetocometohisassistance。Byhisdirection，Itooktheshadeoffthereading—lampafterIhadlittheotherlampandthefourcandles。Whenwesatdownagain，withthisconcentrationoflightbetweenus，hisbetterandgentlermannerbegantoreturn，andwhilehenowaddressedmehespokewithouttheslightesthesitation。
　　"Itisuselesstoaskwhetheryouhaveheardthereportsaboutme，"hesaid；"Iknowthatyouhave。Mypurposeto—nightistogiveyousomereasonableexplanationoftheconductwhichhasproducedthosereports。Mysecrethasbeenhithertoconfidedtoonepersononly；Iamnowabouttotrustittoyourkeeping，withaspecialobjectwhichwillappearasIgoon。First，however，I
　　mustbeginbytellingyouexactlywhatthegreatdifficultyiswhichobligesmetobestillabsentfromEngland。Iwantyouradviceandyourhelp；and，toconcealnothingfromyou，Iwantalsototestyourforbearanceandyourfriendlysympathy，beforeIcanventureonthrustingmymiserablesecretintoyourkeeping。
　　Willyoupardonthisapparentdistrustofyourfrankandopencharacter——thisapparentingratitudeforyourkindnesstowardmeeversincewefirstmet？"
　　Ibeggedhimnottospeakofthesethings，buttogoon。
　　"Youknow，"heproceeded，"thatIamheretorecoverthebodyofmyUncleStephen，andtocarryitbackwithmetoourfamilyburial—placeinEngland，andyoumustalsobeawarethatIhavenotyetsucceededindiscoveringhisremains。Trytopassover，forthepresent，whatevermayseemextraordinaryandincomprehensibleinsuchapurposeasmineis，andreadthisnewspaperarticlewheretheink—lineistraced。Itistheonlyevidencehithertoobtainedonthesubjectofthefatalduelinwhichmyunclefell，andIwanttohearwhatcourseofproceedingtheperusalofitmaysuggesttoyouaslikelytobebestonmypart。"
　　HehandedmeanoldFrenchnewspaper。ThesubstanceofwhatI
　　readthereisstillsofirmlyimpressedonmymemorythatIamcertainofbeingabletorepeatcorrectlyatthisdistanceoftimeallthefactswhichitisnecessaryformetocommunicatetothereader。
　　Thearticlebegan，Iremember，witheditorialremarksonthegreatcuriositythenfeltinregardtothefatalduelbetweentheCountSt。LoandMr。StephenMonkton，anEnglishgentleman。Thewriterproceededtodwellatgreatlengthontheextraordinarysecrecyinwhichthewholeaffairhadbeeninvolvedfromfirsttolast，andtoexpressahopethatthepublicationofacertainmanuscript，towhichhisintroductoryobservationsreferred，mightleadtotheproductionoffreshevidencefromotherandbetter—informedquarters。ThemanuscripthadbeenfoundamongthepapersofMonsieurFoulon，Mr。Monkton’ssecond，whohaddiedatParisofarapiddeclineshortlyafterreturningtohishomeinthatcityfromthesceneoftheduel。Thedocumentwasunfinished，havingbeenleftincompleteattheveryplacewherethereaderwouldmostwishtofinditcontinued。Noreasoncouldbediscoveredforthis，andnosecondmanuscriptbearingontheall—importantsubjecthadbeenfound，afterthestrictestsearchamongthepapersleftbythedeceased。
　　Thedocumentitselfthenfollowed。
　　ItpurportedtobeanagreementprivatelydrawnupbetweenMr。
　　Monkton’ssecond，MonsieurFoulon，andtheCountSt。Lo’ssecond，MonsieurDalville，andcontainedastatementofallthearrangementsforconductingtheduel。Thepaperwasdated"Naples，February22d，"andwasdividedintosomesevenoreightclauses。Thefirstclausedescribedtheoriginandnatureofthequarrel——averydisgracefulaffaironbothsides，worthneitherrememberingnorrepeating。Thesecondclausestatedthat，thechallengedmanhavingchosenthepistolashisweapon，andthechallenger（anexcellentswordsman），having，onhisside，thereuponinsistedthattheduelshouldbefoughtinsuchamannerastomakethefirstfiredecisiveinitsresults，theseconds，seeingthatfatalconsequencesmustinevitablyfollowthehostilemeeting，determined，firstofall，thattheduelshouldbekeptaprofoundsecretfromeverybody，andthattheplacewhereitwastobefoughtshouldnotbemadeknownbeforehand，eventotheprincipalsthemselves。ItwasaddedthatthisexcessofprecautionhadbeenrenderedabsolutelynecessaryinconsequenceofarecentaddressfromthePopetotherulingpowersinItalycommentingonthescandalousfrequencyofthepracticeofdueling，andurgentlydesiringthatthelawsagainstduelistsshouldbeenforcedforthefuturewiththeutmostrigor。
　　Thethirdclausedetailedthemannerinwhichithadbeenarrangedthattheduelshouldbefought。
　　Thepistolshavingbeenloadedbythesecondsontheground，thecombatantsweretobeplacedthirtypacesapart，andweretotossupforthefirstfire。Themanwhowonwastoadvancetenpacesmarkedoutforhimbeforehand——andwasthentodischargehispistol。Ifhemissed，orfailedtodisablehisopponent，thelatterwasfreetoadvance，ifhechose，thewholeremainingtwentypacesbeforehefiredinhisturn。Thisarrangementinsuredthedecisiveterminationoftheduelatthefirstdischargeofthepistols，andbothprincipalsandsecondspledgedthemselvesoneithersidetoabidebyit。
　　ThefourthclausestatedthatthesecondshadagreedthattheduelshouldbefoughtoutoftheNeapolitanStates，butleftthemselvestobeguidedbycircumstancesastotheexactlocalityinwhichitshouldtakeplace。Theremainingclauses，sofarasI
　　rememberthem，weredevotedtodetailingthedifferentprecautionstobeadoptedforavoidingdiscovery。TheduelistsandtheirsecondsweretoleaveNaplesinseparateparties；weretochangecarriagesseveraltimes；weretomeetatacertaintown，or，failingthat，atacertainpost—houseonthehighroadfromNaplestoRome；weretocarrydrawing—books，colorboxes，andcamp—stools，asiftheyhadbeenartistsoutonasketching—tour；andweretoproceedtotheplaceoftheduelonfoot，employingnoguides，forfearoftreachery。Suchgeneralarrangementsasthese，andothersforfacilitatingtheflightofthesurvivorsaftertheaffairwasover，formedtheconclusionofthisextraordinarydocument，whichwassigned，ininitialsonly，byboththeseconds。
　　Justbelowtheinitialsappearedthebeginningofanarrative，dated"Paris，"andevidentlyintendedtodescribetheduelitselfwithextrememinuteness。Thehand—writingwasthatofthedeceasedsecond。
　　MonsieurFoulon，tiregentlemaninquestion，statedhisbeliefthatcircumstancesmighttranspirewhichwouldrenderanaccountbyaneyewitnessofthehostilemeetingbetweenSt。LoandMr。
　　Monktonanimportantdocument。Heproposed，therefore，asoneoftheseconds，totestifythattheduelhadbeenfoughtinexactaccordancewiththetermsoftheagreement，boththeprincipalsconductingthemselveslikemenofgallantryandhonor（！）。Andhefurtherannouncedthat，inordernottocompromiseanyone，heshouldplacethepapercontaininghistestimonyinsafehands，withstrictdirectionsthatitwasonnoaccounttobeopenedexceptinacaseofthelastemergency。
　　Afterthuspreamble，MonsieurFoulonrelatedthattheduelhadbeenfoughttwodaysafterthedrawingupoftheagreement，inalocalitytowhichaccidenthadconductedtheduelingparty。（Thenameoftheplacewasnotmentioned，noreventheneighborhoodinwhichitwassituated。）Themenhavingbeenplacedaccordingtopreviousarrangement，theCountSt。Lohadwonthetossforthefirstfire，hadadvancedhistenpaces，andhadshothisopponentinthebody。Mr。Monktondidnotimmediatelyfall，butstaggeredforwardsomesixorsevenpaces，dischargedhispistolineffectuallyatthecount，anddroppedtothegroundadeadman。
　　MonsieurFoulonthenstatedthathetorealeaffromhispocketbook，wroteonitabriefdescriptionofthemannerinwhichMr。Monktonhaddied，andpinnedthepapertohisclothes；
　　thisproceedinghavingbeenrenderednecessarybythepeculiarnatureoftheplanorganizedonthespotforsafelydisposingofthedeadbody。Whatthisplanwas，orwhatwasdonewiththecorpse，didnotappear，foratthisimportantpointthenarrativeabruptlybrokeoff。
　　Afoot—noteinthenewspapermerelystatedthemannerinwhichthedocumenthadbeenobtainedforpublication，andrepeatedtheannouncementcontainedintheeditor’sintroductoryremarks，thatnocontinuationhadbeenfoundbythepersonsintrustedwiththecareofMonsieurFoulon’spapers。IhavenowgiventhewholesubstanceofwhatIread，andhavementionedallthatwasthenknownofMr。StephenMonkton’sdeath。
　　WhenIgavethenewspaperbacktoAlfredhewastoomuchagitatedtospeak，butheremindedmebyasignthathewasanxiouslywaitingtohearwhatIhadtosay。Mypositionwasaverytryingandaverypainfulone。Icouldhardlytellwhatconsequencesmightnotfollowanywantofcautiononmypart，andcouldthinkatfirstofnosaferplanthanquestioninghimcarefullybeforeI
　　committedmyselfeitheronewayortheother。
　　"WillyouexcusemeifIaskyouaquestionortwobeforeIgiveyoumyadvice？"saidI。
　　Henoddedimpatiently。
　　"Yes，yes——anyquestionsyoulike。"
　　"Wereyouatanytimeinthehabitofseeingyourunclefrequently？"
　　"Ineversawhimmorethantwiceinmylife——oneachoccasionwhenIwasamerechild。"
　　"Thenyoucouldhavehadnoverystrongpersonalregardforhim？"
　　’Regardforhim！Ishouldhavebeenashamedtofeelanyregardforhim。Hedisgraceduswhereverhewent。"
　　"MayIaskifanyfamilymotiveisinvolvedinyouranxietytorecoverhisremains？"
　　"Familymotivesmayenterintoitamongothers——butwhydoyouask？"
　　"Because，havingheardthatyouemploythepolicetoassistyoursearch，Iwasanxioustoknowwhetheryouhadstimulatedtheirsuperiorstomakethemdotheirbestinyourservicebygivingsomestrongpersonalreasonsatheadquartersfortheveryunusualprojectwhichhasbroughtyouhere。"
　　"Igivenoreasons。IpayfortheworkIwantdone，and，inreturnformyliberality，Iamtreatedwiththemostinfamousindifferenceonallsides。Astrangerinthecountry，andbadlyacquaintedwiththelanguage，Icandonothingtohelpmyself。
　　Theauthorities，bothatRomeandinthisplace，pretendtoassistme，pretendtosearchandinquireasIwouldhavethemsearchandinquire，anddonothingmore。Iaminsulted，laughedat，almosttomyface。"
　　"Doyounotthinkitpossible——mind，Ihavenowishtoexcusethemisconductoftheauthorities，anddonotshareinanysuchopinionmyself——butdoyounotthinkitlikelythatthepolicemaydoubtwhetheryouareinearnest？"
　　"Notinearnest！"hecried，startingupandconfrontingmefiercely，withwildeyesandquickenedbreath。"Notinearnest！
　　_You_thinkI’mnotinearnesttoo。Iknowyouthinkit，thoughyoutellmeyoudon’t。Stop；beforewesayanotherword，yourowneyesshallconvinceyou。Comehere——onlyforaminute——onlyforoneminute！"
　　Ifollowedhimintohisbedroom，whichopenedoutofthesitting—room。Atonesideofhisbedstoodalargepacking—caseofplainwood，upwardofsevenfeetinlength。
　　"Openthelidandlookin，"hesaid，"whileIholdthecandlesothatyoucansee。"
　　Iobeyedhisdirections，anddiscoveredtomyastonishmentthatthepacking—casecontainedaleadencoffin，magnificentlyemblazonedwiththearmsoftheMonktonfamily，andinscribedinold—fashionedletterswiththenameof"StephenMonkton，"hisageandthemannerofhisdeathbeingaddedunderneath。
　　"Ikeephiscoffinreadyforhim，"whisperedAlfred，closeatmyear。"Doesthatlooklikeearnest？"
　　Itlookedmorelikeinsanity——solikethatIshrankfromansweringhim。
　　"Yes！yes！Iseeyouareconvinced，"hecontinuedquickly；"wemaygobackintothenextroom，andmaytalkwithoutrestraintoneithersidenow。"
　　Onreturningtoourplaces，Imechanicallymovedmychairawayfromthetable。Mymindwasbythistimeinsuchastateofconfusionanduncertaintyaboutwhatitwouldbebestformetosayordonext，thatIforgotforthemomentthepositionhehadassignedtomewhenwelitthecandles。Heremindedmeofthisdirectly。
　　"Don’tmoveaway，"hesaid，veryearnestly；"keeponsittinginthelight；praydo！I’llsoontellyouwhyIamsoparticularaboutthat。Butfirstgivemeyouradvice；helpmeinmygreatdistressandsuspense。Remember，youpromisedmeyouwould。"
　　Imadeanefforttocollectmythoughts，andsucceeded。Itwasuselesstotreattheaffairotherwisethanseriouslyinhispresence；itwouldhavebeencruelnottohaveadvisedhimasI
　　bestcould。
　　"Youknow，"Isaid，"thattwodaysafterthedrawingupoftheagreementatNaples，theduelwasfoughtoutoftheNeapolitanStates。ThisfacthasofcourseledyoutotheconclusionthatallinquiriesaboutlocalitieshadbetterbeconfinedtotheRomanterritory？"
　　"Certainly；thesearch，suchasitis，hasbeenmadethere，andthereonly。IfIcanbelievethepolice，theyandtheiragentshaveinquiredfortheplacewheretheduelwasfought（offeringalargerewardinmynametothepersonwhocandiscoverit）allalongthehighroadfromNaplestoRome。Theyhavealsocirculated——atleastsotheytellme——descriptionsoftheduelistsandtheirseconds；haveleftanagenttosuperintendinvestigationsatthepost—house，andanotheratthetownmentionedasmeeting—pointsintheagreement；andhaveendeavored，bycorrespondencewithforeignauthorities，totracetheCountSt。LoandMonsieurDalvilletotheirplaceorplacesofrefuge。Alltheseefforts，supposingthemtohavebeenreallymade，havehithertoprovedutterlyfruitless。"
　　"Myimpressionis，"saidI，afteramoment’sconsideration，"thatallinquiriesmadealongthehighroad，oranywherenearRome，arelikelytobemadeinvain。Astothediscoveryofyouruncle’sremains，thatis，Ithink，identicalwiththediscoveryoftheplacewherehewasshot；forthoseengagedintheduelwouldcertainlynotriskdetectionbycarryingacorpseanydistancewiththemintheirflight。Theplace，then，isallthatwewanttofindout。Nowletusconsiderforamoment。Thedueling—partychangedcarriages；traveledseparately，twoandtwo；doubtlesstookroundaboutroads；stoppedatthepost—houseandthetownasablind；walked，perhaps，aconsiderabledistanceunguided。Dependuponit，suchprecautionsasthese（whichweknowtheymusthaveemployed）leftthemverylittletimeoutofthetwodays——thoughtheymightstartatsunriseandnotstopatnight—fall——forstraightforwardtraveling。Mybeliefthereforeis，thattheduelwasfoughtsomewhereneartheNeapolitanfrontier；and，ifIhadbeenthepoliceagentwhoconductedthesearch，Ishouldonlyhavepursueditparallelwiththefrontier，startingfromwesttoeasttillI
　　gotupamongthelonelyplacesinthemountains。Thatismyidea；
　　doyouthinkitworthanything？"